Lack of school management hurting children, TUI claims

The Teacher's Union of Ireland said classroom safety is being greatly compromised because many year head positions aren't being filled.

The TUI will meet in Kilkenny next week, where The Minister for Education Rurai Quinn will make a formal address.

The group said its members are seeing a significant increase in violence in the classroom due to a lack of middle management in schools.

"Generally speaking, when you've got a child that is disruptive, and in the very early stages before it becomes a problem within the school… we can head off problems," said TUI President Gerard Craughwell.

"Right now, teachers have so much to do. There is so much administration and so much bureaucracy gone in to the system, we don't have the time, and we certainly don't have the personnel, to look after these problem children."

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has been accused of misogyny after saying that the abortion debate isn't over until the fat lady sings, before quipping "and I'm not talking about the chairperson of the Committee or anyone like that".